Pickling apparatus



Oct. 4, 1932. s. 1.. WILLIAMS PICKLING APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet n4 [ENTER 9 8 WC/M HTTEIRNEY PI CKLING APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTDR HTTB NEY Patented Oct. 4, 1932 nun-en STATES PATENT OFFICE -S1EPHEN L. W ILLIAMS OF BRIDGEPOET, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 'IO EXTRUDED METAL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO PIGKLING APPARATUS Application filed May 13, 1932. Serial No. 611,092.

This invention relates broadly-to metal pickling apparatus, and isan improvement provide an improved mechanism designed primarily for use in thepickling of strips of rolled'st ccl of varying widths and. lengths which have been rolled into coil form.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pickling apparatus inwhich improved means is provided for opening or spreading the convolutious or coils of suchmetal strips, thus exposing the entire surface of said strips to the action of the pickling fluid of the bath.

'A further object is to provide a. pickling apparatus in which, the operating mechanism is so constructed and operates in such a manner that the pickling operation is effected with a minimum of power consumption.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, a pickling apparatus designed primarily for the pickling of coiled metal strips and wire, but which may readily be transformer'l into a pickling apparatus for 7 metal sheets, forgings, bars, and the like with a, minimum of effort and time, thereby affording pickling apparatus serving a dual purpose.

'lVith these and other objects in view, the invention resid s in the features of construction, combinationsof elements and arrangement of parts which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whicha Figure 1 is a. top plan view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, the pickling tank being shown in section in order to depict the strip carrier and'the cradle: and

Figure is a section on line Fig. 2. Referring to said drawings, 1 and 2 designate companion pickling tanks of rcctangrn lar form disposed in spaced parallel relation and containing the pickling fluid or bath. Located outwardly from and in spaced relation to the opposite ends of each of the tanks are suitable foundations 3, each of said foundations being preferably made from concrete and being of a size and shapeadapted to conveniently accommodate the thereby supported mechanism.

Gear boxes 4 and 5 housing appropriate gearing are permanently located on the foundations'3 above the tanks and at each of the opposite ends of said tanks, said gear boxes being located between the two adjacent side walls of the tanks 1 and 2. Appropriately V coupled to stub shafts 9 and 10 and protruding cxteriorly of the gear boxes 4: and 5 is a longitudinally extending drive shaft 6, said shaft being disposed in parallel relation to the tanks and above the latter, and being journaled intermediate its ends in a center bearing 7, said bearing receiving its support by means of an H-beam 8 which spans the space between the fOundations 3 and has its opposite ends supported by the latter.

A pair of bearings 11 are suitably supported by the foundation 3 at each of the opposite ends of the tanksl and 2 and each pair of bearings has journaled therein a shaft 12.

Each of the four shafts 12 carries on its outer end a crank arm 13 and carries on its inner end a crank arm 14. Short shafts 15 extend transversely from each of the gear boxes 4 and 5 and at right angles to the shafts 9 and 10, and each of the short shafts 15 carries a crank arm 16.

Each of the crank arms 13 has pivotally attached thereto the upper end of a connecting rod 17, and interposed betweenthe crank arms 14 and 16 is the upper end of a connecting rod 18, as shown in Fig. 3, said connect ing, rods 17 and 18 providing means by which two rectangular frames are suspended in overhanging suspended relation to the tanks 1 and 2, which frames afford supports for carriers of the material to be pickled.

Said supporting frames, as herein shown, are composed of parallel longitudinally extending side members, each formed of two rigidly attached channel irons 19, and transverse channel irons 20 connecting said side members adjacent their ends, spacers 21 he-- ing received between and riveted to the cow fronting faces of the companion channel irons 19.

'A'n'elec trio motor 23 is mounted upon the foundation 3 rearward of the gear box 4 and has the drive shaft thereof suitably coupled to a stub shaft 24 of the gear box. As Wlll be understood from the drawings, operation u of the motor 23 results in rotation of each of the four shafts 12, the two shafts 12 at one end of the tank being rotated in'a clockwise manner, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2,

' through the intermediaoy of the gear box 4,

while the shafts 12 at the opposite end of the tanks are rotated in a counterclockwise manner bymeans of the drive shaft 6 and ap propriate gearing contained within the gear box 5. i

Obviously, rotation of the shafts and the thereby carried crank arms at the opposite ends of the tanks in reverse directions results in the frames carried by the connecting rods 17 and 18 being vertically reciprocated with each revolution of the crank arms.

A guideplate 25 is permanently fixed to I the inner side walls ofv the foundations 3 adjaccnt the ends of the two frames and each of said guides 25 has its two vertical side edges abutted by plates 26 permanently attached to the end channels 20 of each frame. Said plates are designed for vertical movement with respect to said guide 25 during reciprocating movements of the frames in the operation of the apparatus, the same providing means for substantially true vertical reciprocation of the frames. Additionally, the guide mechanism described affords means for maintaining the frame rigid with respect to the operating mechanism when the carrier 'is being placed on the frame or when being removed therefrom, as will hereinafter be described.

Each of said frames has located l'ietween its ends spaced transverse I-b'eams 27 that have their opposite ends attached to the side members of the frame by means of angles 28 attached to the side members by means of rivets. A saddle-like member 29 is bolted to each of said transverse beams 27 at an appropriate distance between the ends there of, the saddle members being designed to serve as supports for the carriers of the material to be pickled.

Each of said carriers is composed of a horizontal bar 30, the ends of which rest in the depressions of the-saddle members 29. The bar 30 is provided with depending memhers 31 and 32, the member 31 being pivoted at 33 to thc'bar 30 and being of substantially U-shape. A horizontal member 34 is pivoted at 35 to the depending member 32 and has its opposite end free and formed to rest upon the closed bottom of the U-shaped member 31. The pivoted end of the member 32 is shouldered, as shown at 36, and engages a corresponding shoulder formed in the bottom of the member 34 to rigidly hold themember in position by the weight of the coiled metal strips 37, as shown in Fig. 3.

The upper face of the, horizontal member '34 is preferably formed with a plurality of horizontally alined drilled holes adapted to have snugly received therein the lower ends of spacing pins or fingers 38. Said fingers are designed as separators .for the coiled strips,'allowing the pickling of strips of varying widths without longitudinal shifting thereof, as shown in- Fig. 2: A detachable horizontal keeper 39has its opposite ends attached, respectively,to the depending members 31 and32 and has a plurality of horizontally alined drilled holes in its under faceadapted to receive the upper ends of the spacing fingers 38.- l

The bar 30 is provided with eyes or loops 40 for engagement with a lifting-crane, as will be hereinafter explained.

As shown in Fig. 3, a cradle 41 is stationarily suspended within each of the tanks 1 and 2, said cradle having spaced longitudinal bars 42, which latter are disposed in the are of a circle. Clamping brackets or clips 43 are secured to the top edges of the sides of the tanks, said brackets having attached thereto the upper ends of downwardly and con vergently related rods 44, which rods have their lower ends secured to the cradle 41 for stationarily supporting the latter in the pickling tank.

In operation, it will be'seen that, in order to load the coils 37 on the carrier, the carrier is first disconnected from the apparatus. Then the free end of the. horizontal member 34 is raised and the pivoted member 31 is swung outwardly, or to the left of Fig. 2,

which enables the coiled strips 37 to be positioned onto the member 34. In other words,

the coiled strips are threaded on said member 34. After such positioning of the coils upon the member, the latter is moved to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position it engages the member 31. The spacing pins or fingers 38 then have their lower end portionsintrodnced in appropriate holes in the member 34 to suitably separate the coils, as hereinbefore explained. The keeper39 is then positioned over said fingers so as to embrace the upper end 'portions thereof, the opposite ends of said keeper being attached in any appropriate manner, as by means of pins or bolts, to the depending members 31 and 32, respectively.

A lifting crane is then connected to the carrier by means of the eyes 40 and the same is carried to a position wherein its bar 30 seats in alined saddle members 29 of the supporting frames.

VVitlrthe carriers of the companion frames loaded and positioned as above described, power is applied to the operating mechanism by means of the motor 23. This power is transmitted to the shafts 12; crank arms 13, 14 and 16; connecting rods 17 and 18, in a manner hereinbefore described so as to impart vertical reciprocal movements to the frames and the thereby carried loads, result ing in the coils being alternately plunged upwardly and downwardly in the pickling fluid of the bath.

It will be noted that the two supporting frames have alternate vertical movementsthat is, the frame of one tank travels in a downward direction while the frame of the other tank travels in an upward direction, and vice versa. Such alternate movements of the reciprocating frames tends to provide a balanced apparatus and results in a minimum of power consumption being required for operation.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the limit of the down stroke of the carrier is such that the bottom portions of the coils come in contact with or are impacted against the cradle 41 and the weight of said coil is thereby transferred from the carrier to the cradle, resulting in the spreading or opening up of the convolutions of the coils of the upper portion of the coils. On the up stroke of the carrier, the bar 34: carries the entire weight of the coils, closing the convolutions of the upper portion of the coils and spreading the convolutions of the lower portion by reason of their own weight. This opening or closing of the convolutions of the coils, shown more or less diagrammatically in Fig. 3, enables the pickling fluid to have free and complete access to the entire surface of the coiled strips.

It will be understood that, while I have specifically shown and described my invention as being intended for the purpose of picklin coiled metal strips or wire. the apparatus may be readily and conveniently converted so as to accommodate steel sheets, forginns, and the like. In this event, the stationary cradle ll is preferably removed from the tanks and any desired form of rack or basket substituted for the carrier herein shown and described. For this reason, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the following claims.

\Vhat is claimed is- 1. A pickling apparatus of thecharaeter described comprising a pair of spaced pickling tanks, a stationary cradle mounted in each of said tanks, a vertically reciprocating frame permanently disposed above each of said tanks and comprising a pair of longitudinal members spaced apart by a pair of transverse members suitably to the reception of an article carrier, a removable article carrier sup ported by each of said frames, and power means connected to said frames whereby to alternately reciprocate the frames and thereby the articles carried by the latter into and out of engagement with said cradle.

2. In a pickling apparatus, a pickling tank a stationary cradle carried by and suspended within said tank, a frame permanently located and movably supported above said tank and comprising a pair of longitudinal members spaced apart by a pair of transverse members suitably to the reception of an article carrier, an article carrier supported by said frame, power means, a rotary shaft connected to said power means, and means connect,

ing said shaft and frame whereby operation of the power means imparts a vertical reciprocatory motion to the frame and the thereby supported article carrier.

3. In a pickling apparatus, a pickling tank having an open top, a stationary cradle supported by and disposed within said tank, a

transversely disposed crank shaft supported adjacent each end of the tank, a frame permanently supported by said crank shaft in spaced relation to the upper edge of the tank and comprising a pair of longitudinal meme bers spaced apart by a pair of transverse members suitably to the reception of an article carrier, an article supporting member carried,

bythe frame and disposed within the tank. power means, and means connecting each of said crank shafts for imparting opposite rotative movement to the latter upon operation of the power means whereby to vertically reciprocate said frame, the articles supported within the tank being impacted against the stationary cradle during the reciprocatory movement of the frame to separate said ar ticles.

4. In a pickling apparatus. a picklinr: tank a stationary cradle carried by and disposed within said tank. a vertically reciprocating frame mounted above said tank. a removable coil holder mounted within said frame. ad iustable spacer bars mounted within sa d co l holder whereby to accommodate coils of varying widths, and power means for recip rocating said frame to cans-e said coils to be impacted against the cradle for separating: the convolutions of said coils. 5. In a pickling apparatus. a pickling tank. a stationary cradle carried by and disposed within said tank. a vertically reciprocating frame mounted above said tank, a removable coil holder mounted within said frame, adjustable spacer means mounted within said coil holder whereby to accommodate coils of varying widths, and power means for rcci'procating said frame to cause sail coils to be mp i'ng theconvolutio'us of 's'ald coils.

acted against the eradlefor separat- (S. In a'picklin'g apparatus, a pickling tank, a stationary cradlecarried by and disposed withinsaid tank. a vertically reciprocating frame mounted above said tank. a removable article'holder mounted within said frame, adjustablespacer bars mounted within said article" holder whereby to accommodate articles of varying widths, and power means [for reciprocating said frame to cause said "articles to be impacted against the cradle for moving the articles upon said holder.

7. A pickling apparatus of the character described comprising a pair of spaced pickling tanks. a vertically reciprocating frame permanently disposed above each of said tanks and comprising a vpair of longitudinal members spaced apart by a pair of transverse members suitably to the reception of an artic-1e carrier, a removable article carrier supported by each of said frames, means in the tank for engaging: the articles to cause same to completely engage the picklina' fluid. and power means including parts disposed between said tanks and connected to said frames whereby to alternately reciprocate the frames and thereby the articles. a

8. In a pickling apparatus. a pickling tank. a transversely disposed crank shaft supported adjacent each end of the tank, a frame supported by said crank shafts in spaced relation above said tank. power means, means interposed between said crank shafts for imparting opposite rotative movements to the latter upon operation of the power means whereby to vertically reciprocate said frame, and-a carrier adapted to be removably mounted on said frame. 7 a

9. A pickling apparatus of the character described comprising, companion pickling tanks, drive shafts located at the opposite 7 ends of said tanks, crank arms mounted on said shafts, connecting rods pivotally connected to said crank arms and supporting a frame in suspended relation above each of said tanks, eachof said frames comprising a pair of longitudinal members spaced apart by a pair of transverse members suitably to the reception of an article carrier.

10. A pickling apparatus of the character described, comprising a pair of spaced pickling tanks. transversely disposed crank shafts adjacent the ends of said tanks, a gear box interposed between the transverse shafts at each end of said tanks, a horizontal drive shaft connecting said gear boxes, frames supported by said crank shafts, one over each tank, said frames being adapted to support an article carrier thereon, and means for retating said crank shafts to impart alternate elevating and lowering movements to said frames.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

STEPHEN L. WVILLIAMS. 

